It is reported that the port operating arm of Danish shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk is considering several acquisition opportunities in Asia as the industry recovers from its crisis.

Mr Kim Fejfer CEO of APM Terminal said that the economic downturn in the box shipping industry has ended with many firms back to profit two years after the global financial crisis slashed seaborne trade, costing the sector an estimated USD 15 billion in 2009.

Mr Fejfer told reporters at a news conference that "In terms of our customers and shipping lines, they are growing again and back in profitable territory. I think it is fair to say the crisis is over. It is behind the shipping industry."

The container industry, a key indicator of world economic growth, was considered in a much healthier state than the oil tanker and dry bulk markets, which were plagued by oversupplies of vessels and limited demand.

Demand for container port handling was expected to increase by 7% in 2015 in emerging markets, surpassing the 2% increase seen in developed countries.

Mr Martin Christiansen the head of the company's Asia operations said that "The growth (in containers) will be more driven by emerging markets than the mature markets of the United States and Europe. We are seeing that decoupling taking place already.”

APM one of the world's top 4 port operators, has prioritized China, India and Vietnam as the three main countries to expand its business. Mr Christiansen said that "One of the areas that we will be looking more at is potentially growing some of our inland activities through acquisitions more than organic growth adding that China's Yangtze River was its top focus.”

Targets for acquisitions or joint ventures included trucking and rail service companies through its Container Inland Services unit, which was taken over from its sister company Maersk Line last year.

(Sourced from Reuters)